Cameron Brereton pleads guilty to driving stolen car in aftermath of a Corio home invasion

A Geelong man put the community “at risk” when he drove a stolen car and led police on a high-speed chase that ended in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

A man who drove a stolen car at speeds of up to 200km/h while trying to escape police will remain behind bars.

Cameron Brereton faced Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to driving the stolen car in the aftermath of a Corio home invasion in the early hours of June 20 this year.

He pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving, recklessly engaging in conduct, failing to stop when directed by police and driving while disqualified.

The court heard while Brereton was not involved in the break and enter, he fled the scene with the alleged co-accused in the passenger seat.

Officers spotted the stolen vehicle along Mill Rd at Lara about 4.40am that morning and attempted to pull the vehicle over without success.

The defendant, who was behind the wheel, sped up to 170km/h in a bid to get away.

Police gave chase and at one point, while on You Yangs Rd in Lara, Brereton stalled the vehicle and officers approached on foot with guns drawn.

Cameron Brereton faced Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to driving the stolen car in the aftermath of a Corio home invasion. Picture: Mark Wilson

Court documents revealed Brereton ignored warnings and sped off again, reaching speeds of between 170km/h and 220km/h.

A police helicopter tracked the vehicle from the skies as it drove into Melbourne, ditching the car at Hawthorn where both men were arrested about 5.50am.

Stolen car keys were recovered in the front yard of a Hawthorn home.

Magistrate Peter Mellas said the high speeds were particularly dangerous to the community, but took note of the defendant’s early guilty plea.

“This is serious offending,” he said.

“You put people at risk.”

Brereton was sentenced to a prison term of 14 months, with four months time served on remand and a non-parole period of seven months.

“All this occurred when he was banned from driving,” Mr Mellas said.

His license was also cancelled and he was disqualified from reapplying for a year.

A statement from the owner of the car read out in court described the financial loss he’d suffered due to the damage of the car.

Defence lawyer Kristen Mavor said her client recognised his driving was “serious” and “reckless” behaviour.

“If he was able to get some assistance, this might be the turning point in (Brereton’s) life,” she said.

Originally published as Cameron Brereton pleads guilty to driving stolen car in aftermath of a Corio home invasion